[Y/N] Studio has successfully completed the renovation of an existing workspace in Woodberry Down, Hackney, creating 14 new affordable workspace units for creative startups and designers. The project was commissioned by Dalston-based community interest company Hackney Cooperative Developments and funded through an affordable workspace grant from Hackney Council. The transformation addresses the urgent need for accessible premises in one of London's fastest-changing neighborhoods.
The original building presented several challenges that made it inefficient and costly to operate. While the existing workspace featured high-quality, naturally lit perimeter offices, it suffered from an underutilized central space that created an impersonal atmosphere and increased business costs. The services core, including toilets, storage, and reception areas located away from the main entrance, consumed more space than necessary and contributed to the building's inefficient layout.
[Y/N] Studio was tasked with rationalizing the floor plan and making the services core more efficient to create space for new infill workspaces. The design team responded by developing 14 brand-new, flexible workspace units ranging in size from 6 square meters to 24 square meters, along with a shared meeting room and rationalized kitchenette and restroom facilities. An orange floor covering now unifies the upper floor, while the reception has been relocated to the building entrance, creating a more welcoming environment for both new and existing tenants.
The new workspace units are specifically designed to cater to creative startups and designers, with the flexibility to double as breakout meeting rooms for existing offices in the building. Working closely with fabricator MILK Furniture, the practice designed a series of modular and flexible timber partitions that form the individual units, making the installation process both fast and efficient. The exposed sawn timber frames are clad on one side with translucent profiled polycarbonate that can be customized by tenants, while a central spine of back-to-back plywood shelving provides conventional storage solutions.
This project builds on [Y/N] Studio's previous successful collaboration with Hackney Cooperative Developments. In 2023, the studio expanded and improved affordable workspace at Bradbury Works, located in a terrace of workspaces just off Dalston's Gillett Square in Hackney. That project involved wrapping the building in a polycarbonate skin and creating deck access circulation using an industrial palette of materials. The Bradbury Works scheme received high commendation in the AJ Architecture Awards the same year.
Alex Smith, founding director of [Y/N] Studio, emphasized the project's focus on careful intervention rather than complete reinvention. "The project takes place within an existing workplace that was underperforming. Through careful intervention rather than complete reinvention, it gains a new lease of life," Smith explained. He noted that time and cost were crucial factors in the design process, driven by funding constraints and the need to minimize disruption to existing tenants.
The design team prioritized material efficiency and sustainability throughout the project. "To reduce the project's material footprint, we aimed to ensure each material served multiple practical functions," Smith said. Timber was chosen for its ease of prefabrication and ability to introduce natural materiality while creating a flexible structural system. Polycarbonate provided light and privacy while being lightweight, strong, and robust. The Cayenne-colored flooring served to rebrand the project, creating continuity between spaces and linking the warmth of the timber to the reflectivity of the polycarbonate.
Simon Dancey, chief executive officer of Hackney Cooperative Developments, praised the project as an exemplar of how architecture can serve as a tool for social equity. "Staying true to HCD's founding mission of inclusive, affordable development, this project reimagines a constrained site and limited budget as an opportunity for ingenuity," Dancey stated. He emphasized that the project delivers high-quality, affordable workspaces that meet urgent community needs while maximizing every square meter through intelligent, flexible design.
The redevelopment prioritizes community building beyond just providing workspace. The thoughtfully relocated kitchenette and upgraded shared toilet facilities create a welcoming, functional hub that encourages interaction and cooperation among tenants. Materials were selected for both durability and affordability, with clear emphasis on sustainability and long-term value. The design supports a diverse mix of small enterprises, startups, social businesses, and makers.
The project began construction in 2024 and is scheduled for completion in 2025, covering a gross internal floor area of 712 square meters. The construction team includes Complete Building Control for building control services and Jeffreys Construction as the main contractor, while construction costs have not been disclosed. A second phase of the project is planned, which will include an improved reception area on the ground floor and enhanced wayfinding signage throughout the building.
